Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

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The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 was the range-topping version of Mitsubishi Motors' Galant model, available in the sixth (1988–92), seventh (1992–96) and eighth (1996–2002) generations of the vehicle. Originally introduced to comply with the new Group A regulations of the World Rally Championship, it was soon superseded as Mitsubishi's competition vehicle by the Lancer Evolution, and subsequently developed into a high-performance showcase of the company's technology.

[edit] Background & competition history

Pentti Airikkala at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 in 1989, on his way to victory in the RAC Rally with co-driver Ronan McNamee.

Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) sought to improve its image through the established path of participation in motorsport. The Lancer 1600 GSR and Pajero/Montero/Shogun both achieved great success in rallying and Rally Raid events,^[1][2] and eventually the company planned an attempt on the Group B class of the World Rally Championship with a four-wheel drive version of its Starion coupé. However, the class was outlawed following several fatal accidents in 1986 and '87, and Mitsubishi was forced to reassess its approach. It instead homologated the recently-introduced sixth generation of its Galant sedan for the Group A class, using the mechanical underpinnings from its aborted Starion prototype. Between 1988 and '92, it was campaigned by the official factory outfit, Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe, winning three events in the hands of Mikael Ericsson (1989 1000 Lakes Rally),^[3] Pentti Airikkala (1989 Lombard RAC Rally)^[4] and Kenneth Eriksson (1991 Swedish Rally).^[5] It was also driven to outright victory in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championships by Kenjiro Shinozuka (1988) and Ross Dunkerton (1991–92), and the American National GT Championship (1992) by Tim O'Neil.^[6]

However, Mitsubishi — and their competitors — realised that the WRC cars of the '80s were simply too big and ungainly for the tight, winding roads of rally stages. Ford migrated the Sierra/Sapphire Cosworth to a smaller Escort-based bodyshell; Subaru developed the Impreza to succeed their Legacy; and Toyota eventually replaced the Celica coupe with the Corolla. Mitsubishi, meanwhile, carried the VR-4's engine/transmission over to the new Lancer Evolution, bringing to an end the Galant's representation in MMC's motorsport efforts.

[edit] Sixth generation (E38A/E39A)

6th generation
Production	1988–1992
Assembly	Nagoya plant, Okazaki, Aichi
Class	Compact car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 5-door hatchback
Layout	Front engine, 4WD
Engine(s)	1997 cc DOHC 16v I4, turbo
Transmission(s)	Four-wheel drive, 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual

Group A regulations dictated a turbocharged engine of 2.0 L displacement and a four-wheel drive transmission. In order to satisfy the mandatory minimum sales requirements of 5,000 units, Mitsubishi made it available in North America, New Zealand, Australia, Japan & other Asian Pacific Rim territories, with 3,000 reaching the United States in 1991 and '92.^[7] In road-going trim the four-door sedan produced up to 240 PS depending on market, giving the car a top speed of over 130 mph and allowing it to accelerate from 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, with a quarter mile elapsed time of 15.3 seconds. This car also featured power-assisted speed-sensitive four-wheel steering: the rear wheels steered in the same phase as the front wheels above 30 mph, up to 1.5 degrees.

A liftback version was also produced, known as the Eterna ZR-4. This had some minor cosmetic differences, but mechanically was the same as the VR-4 sedan. The manual version (both VR4 and ZR4) came with a TD05 turbo while the auto came with a TD04.

[edit] Technical specifications

Engine

Configuration — DOHC 16v inline 4 cylinder

Code — 4G63T

Bore/stroke, capacity — 85.0 x 88.0 mm, 1997 cc

Compression ratio — 7.8:1

Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel

Peak power — 177 kW (240 PS) at 6000 rpm

Peak torque — 294 N·m (217 ft·lbf) at 3500 rpm

Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual

Suspension — MacPherson struts (front), double wishbones (rear)

Dimensions

Length — 4560 mm

Width — 1695 mm

Height — 1440 mm

Wheelbase — 2600 mm

Kerb weight — 1380 kg

Fuel tank — 62 L

Wheels/tyres — 195/60 R15 86H

[edit] Seventh generation (E84A)

7th generation
Production	1992–1996
Assembly	Nagoya plant, Okazaki, Aichi
Class	Mid-size car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 5-door hatchback
Layout	Front engine, 4WD
Engine(s)	1998 cc DOHC 24v V6, twin-turbo
Transmission(s)	Four-wheel drive, 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual

For 1992, the emergence of the homologated Lancer meant the top-spec Galant was no longer constrained by sporting regulations. The existing, proven 4WD transmission was carried over, in keeping with Mitsubishi's reputation for performance-enhancing technology, but the old straight-4 was superseded by a smoother twin-turbo 2.0 L V6, and mated either to a conventional 5-speed manual, or a 4-speed INVECS auto complete with "fuzzy logic", which allowed the transmission to adapt to the driver's style and road conditions "on the fly". It was capable of dispatching the 0-60 sprint in about 6.5 seconds, and if derestricted could reach about 140 mph.

Variants of this car using the same engine/drivetrain were sold in Japan as the Eterna XX-4 liftback (1992) and Galant Sports GT liftback (1994–96).

[edit] Technical specifications

Engine

Configuration — DOHC 24v V type 6 cylinder

Code — 6A12TT

Bore/stroke, capacity — 78.4 x 69.0 mm, 1998 cc

Compression ratio — 8.5:1

Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel

Peak power — 177 kW (240 PS) at 6000 rpm

Peak torque — 309 N·m (228 ft·lbf) @ 3500 rpm

Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual

Suspension — Multi-link (front & rear)

Dimensions

Length — 4630 mm

Width — 1730 mm

Height — 1410 mm

Wheelbase — 2635 mm

Kerb weight — 1430 kg

Fuel tank — 64 L

Wheels/tyres — 205/60 R15 91V

[edit] Eighth generation (EC5A/EC5W)

8th generation
Production	1996–2003
Assembly	Nagoya plant, Okazaki, Aichi
Class	Mid-size car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 5-door wagon
Layout	Front engine, 4WD
Engine(s)	2498 cc DOHC 24v V6, twin-turbo
Transmission(s)	Four-wheel drive, 5-speed semi-auto 5-speed manual

The final VR-4 was introduced in 1996. The engine capacity was enlarged substantially to 2.5 L, which pushed the power up by 15 percent to the Japanese voluntary limit of 280 PS. The car was now capable of over 150 mph when derestricted, and could accelerate from 0-60 in about six seconds.

The Type-V model could be specified with either the existing 5-speed manual or the optional INVECS-II, which was now an advanced self-learning 5-speed semi-auto based on Porsche's Tiptronic transmission, while the Type-S model offered the optional Active Yaw Control (AYC). This complex rear diff was first seen on the Lancer Evo IV, and used an array of sensors to detect and quell oversteer, giving the ultimate VR-4 great agility for a vehicle of its size and weight.

With the 8th generation of the Galant, Mitsubishi introduced a station wagon (known in many markets as the Legnum) to replace the old 5-door hatchback, and the VR-4 was now available in both body styles.

North America and Europe were again denied this model, but the burgeoning grey import trade meant that it developed a cult following in several overseas territories, especially the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In 2000 MMC's motorsport partner Ralliart was contracted to type-approve Galants and Lancers for UK sales, and 200 VR-4s were officially imported before production finally ceased two years later.

[edit] Technical specifications

Engine

Configuration — DOHC 24v V type 6 cylinder

Code — 6A13TT

Bore/stroke, capacity — 81.0 × 80.8 mm, 2498 cc

Compression ratio — 8.5:1

Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel

Peak power — 206 kW (280 PS) @ 5500 rpm

Peak torque — 367 N·m (271 ft·lbf) @ 4000 rpm

Transmission — 5 speed semi-auto / 5 speed manual

Suspension — Multi-link (front & rear)

Dimensions

Length — 4680 mm

Width — 1760 mm

Height — 1420 mm

Wheelbase — 2635 mm

Curb weight — 1520 kg

Fuel tank — 60 L

Wheels/tyres — 225/50 R16 91V

[edit] Future

Production of the VR-4 was halted in 2002 along with the rest of the Japanese-produced eighth generation, and there has been no indication of a direct replacement. At the 2006 Chicago Auto Show Mitsubishi North America debuted the "Galant Ralliart", but this was a US-market vehicle powered by the 260 PS version of the naturally-aspirated 6G75 3.8 L V6 from the Eclipse GT.^[8] The Galant VR-4 has most likely been consigned to history, obsoleted by marketing (rally-derived technology is now restricted to the Lancer Evo model), motorsport regulations (the adoption of World Rally Cars by the WRC negates the need for road-going homologation specials), and ever-stricter economy and emissions legislation.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Galant 1988-1990 VR-4 at Mitsubishi Motors Web Museum
• Galant 1991-1992 VR-4 at Mitsubishi Motors Web Museum
• Technical specifications